HEALTH LITERACY AWARENESS FOR HEALTHY EUROPE Erasmus Project

Project Title

HEALTH LITERACY AWARENESS FOR HEALTHY EUROPE

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : Strategic Partnerships for adult education

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2016

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: New innovative curricula/educational methods/development of training courses; Health and wellbeing; Research and innovation

Project Summary

WHO defines health as not merely the absence of diseases and disability; health is complete well being in physical, psychological and socially. Health literacy (HL) is people’s social and cognitive skills which determine the motivation and ability of individuals to gain access to understand and use information to promote and maintain good health.
According to 2009 UNESCO report 776 million world population and currently %50 of US adult population don’t have the basic HL. In a recent study conducted in 8 European countries using European HL survey, %47.6 population have inadequate and problematic HL score; HL is related to use of health services as well. People with low HL use preventative health measures like breast cancer screening facilities and flu vaccinations less frequently. There is also relationship people having low HL and increased number of health clinic visits and hospitalization. Low HL is also a factor for people using emergency health care services more than average. Inadequate HL have individual as well as economic impact on the resource of the nations.
Self efficacy (SE) is optimistic self beliefs how one could cope with difficulties one may face. If individuals are aware of their responsibilities in preserving and promoting their health and carry out their duties of self care they could cope with their health problems. SE scale developed by Schwarzer et all. is not specific to any area but can determine general SE reliably.
There were six partners; Gazi University was the coordinator, members of Department of Public Health at the Medical Faculty carried out project tasks. Because of its expertise and resources in health promotion, the public health department led the project during all the project tasks. Ankara National Education Directory had public education centers this improved the public adult education opportunities of the project. Since Governorship of Ankara is the principal governor of the province and provincial health department; they helped to increase public awareness of health literacy and they facilitated reaching wider health and educational positions within the city and nationally. ISIS Sozialforschung worked with disadvantaged and elderly group which helped to increase HL awareness among those who had low HL. OMNIS worked with immigrants and disadvantaged groups who were generally need more uplifting in HL. BDA worked with general population and helped creating social policies.
Main Project Activities
Creation of web page (OER platform); the project web page shared all the information and findings of the project and its activities. HL education materials were provided on the web page in project partner countries languages.
HL and general self efficacy level in partner countries were determined, based on these results, literature search and health services an evidence based need analysis was carried out.
Based on the need analysis a HL education program and its contents, materials and methods were developed, then applied and evaluated on 400 adults.
An education program with contents and evaluation to improve education skills of the educators for the general public in HL was developed, applied and evaluated; 12 educators participated.
Dissemination activities, multiplier events were organized to increase awareness about HL for the general public and health policy setters.
After adult HL education programs and awareness activities, HL score of the target groups were increased significantly. The developed materials in HL for the educators and the general public based on the need analysis were the first of its kind in Europe. The project added and complemented the works of partners by including HL in their portfolio who were already active in related areas; and promoted the HL level of their population.
HL has become the main working areas of Gazi University project group; the project web page will be active and updated for years to come. Gazi University will continue providing HL education for the general public and for its graduates with the developed educational materials of the project. Gazi University introduced HL courses at the graduate level during the project; a new higher education project is under preparation for implementation of HL courses in curriculum at national and European level. National partners are still collaborating in HL related areas, since international partners are non governmental and in adult education they will provide HL materials and activities in their future endeavors.
The project groups work started during the project with Turkish Ministry of Health in HL education is continuing. The ongoing work will result application of project outputs at national level. HL is a contemporary issue in Turkey, Europe and world wide; HL has potential implications in preserving and promoting health at many levels in our countries. This project has been an exemplary health literacy project at national and European level and received positive feedback.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 168212 Eur

Project Coordinator

GAZI UNIVERSITESI & Country: TR

Project Partners

• BALGARSKA AGENTSIYA ZA RAZVITIE
• ANKARA MILLI EGITIM MUDURLUGU
• ASSOCIAZIONE OMNIS
• T.C. Ankara Valiligi / R.T. Ankara Governorship
• ISIS GMBH